Market Challenges And Opportunities

Global 3D Printing in Healthcare Market Drivers:

Increase in biomedical applications is expected to propel the market growth

3D printing technology has several applications in the healthcare sector. In addition to printing prosthetics, dental implants, and hearing aids, this technology is used for printing various organs, which can be implanted in the body. Several companies have focused on printing and commercializing organs such as livers and thyroid glands, which are being used in pre-clinical drug testing. In addition, 3D printing technology is used in stem cell biology and biomedical engineering, thus leveraging the scope of its biomedical application. Furthermore, extensive research is being carried out to improve the efficacy of drugs using 3D printing technology. Novel healthcare applications of 3D printing have surfaced due to extensive research and development activities being conducted at both industrial and academic levels. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the 3D printing healthcare market during the forecast period.

For instance, March 22, 2023, Hovione and Laxxon Medical entered into a strategic collaboration to advance the use of 3D screen printing technologies for the pharmaceutical industry. The partnership combines Laxxon´s expertise in 3D screen printing, based on their SPID-Technology, with Hovione’s product and process development, engineering and manufacturing expertise in pharmaceutical applications.

Global 3D Printing in Healthcare Market Opportunities:

The 3D printing technology is now being used to bioprint bones, ears, exoskeletons, windpipes, jaw bones, eyeglasses, cell cultures, stem cells, blood vessels, vascular networks, tissues, and organs. This technology is in its nascent stage, and is not available for commercialization due to various factors. However, these applications are expected to gain momentum and lead to increased adoption of 3D printers in the near future.

In addition, the time and cost required to produce artificial body organs is anticipated to decrease, thereby offering remunerative opportunities for market expansion.

For instance, in August 2022, Precise Bio, a regenerative medicine startup and Carl Zeiss Meditec (ZEISS), a medical technology company, have begun a partnership for the purposes of developing and commercializing 3D bioprinted corneal tissue for use in cornea implants. The resulting implants would then be used in transplants to treat corneal diseases and vision correction. This new partnership builds on the two companies’ previous collaboration in 2020, when they worked together to develop lens implants for the corneal disease keratoconus, in which thinning tissues cause a person’s cornea to bulge into a cone shape, causing blurred vision and even sensitivity to light and glare. Precise Bio and ZEISS are continuing their work after achieving successful preclinical trials on their previous lens implants.

Global 3D Printing in Healthcare Market Restraints:

High cost associated with 3D printing is responsible to hinder market growth

As 3D printing is an evolving market, the cost associated with 3D printer is considerably high. These printers require high capital investments for initial setup and maintenance. In addition, the costs of these instruments vary depending on the size and technology used. Moreover, the software required to run 3D printers is expensive. In addition, the software needs to be updated periodically to keep it efficient and effective. Furthermore, the materials used in 3D printing for healthcare applications should be biocompatible and possess sufficient mechanical strength, as they require pre-printing processing.

High cost associated with 3D printers has posed as a major threat to the global 3D printing healthcare market. Moreover, the price of 3D printers is expected to reduce during the forecast period, owing to increase in their adoption for various applications. Thus, the impact of this restraint is anticipated to reduce in the near future.

Increase in reimbursement challenges is reason to hamper the market growth

The healthcare applications of 3D printing technology are emerging in the market. Over 100 medical devices manufactured on the 3D printer have received FDA clearance for use. Although FDA-cleared 3D-printed joint implant or bone fixator may be reimbursed, 3D models of a patient's anatomy and professional fees often are not. Hence, 3D-printed medical devices and implants are sparingly used by surgeons, owing to lack of favourable reimbursement policies.

The implementation of reimbursement policies is anticipated to increase the adoption of medical 3D-printed medical devices or implants during the forecast period, thus driving the market growth.